Christmas Feast breaks records
By Matt Smith – Clinton Herald, Iowa (TNS)
Sad that the need exists but glad that the people of Cleburne, as they have for several years running, stepped up to fill it, is how Cleburne Christmas Feast founder Michelle Moralez summed up this year’s feast.
“It was a little crazy and a little awesome and very busy,” Moralez said. “Within the first two hours we had more people show up than we did during the whole five hours of the 2023 Feast.”
Moralez credited the attendance uptick to financial and loneliness factors.
“There’s just great need out there right now on the part of so many,” Moralez said. “There’s a lot of people out there who just can’t afford this economy we’re living in today.”
The Christmas Feast, now in its 12th year, offers free Christmas dinner to all comers each Christmas Day in Cleburne. The Cleburne Conference Center served as host site for this year’s Feast.
“It worked out so well logistically and room wise, and we really did need the room this year,” Moralez said. “The conference center staff were great to work with and I’ve already contacted them to find out how soon we can book the center for next year’s Feast.”
Morales works with Feast coordinator Fernando Rodriguez and a host of volunteers to deliver good food and Christmas cheer to a mix of attendees young and old.
“We see a little bit of everybody every year,” Moralez said. “People who are alone and have nowhere to go for Christmas, elderly people, young families, homeless and just a lot of people who are really going though hard times.”
People are free to show up to enjoy fellowship and a free meal or have Christmas dinner delivered to their home.
Cleburne business owner Casey Waits has overseen Feast delivery operations for the past five years.
“It’s a blast to be able to help out and really it’s become a big part of my family’s Christmas tradition over the past few years,” Waits said. “I’m already looking forward to next year and getting my sons more involved. They’re getting to that age where they can take more part in helping get things packed up and ready to go.”
Waits said he and the 10 or so drivers who volunteered to help with deliveries this year delivered more than 170 dinners throughout the Cleburne area.
“We went to more than 30 households, delivered dinners to all the firemen in the fire houses,” Waits said. “We took gifts and toys to the households that had kids in addition to dinners. Everything worked out great. The conference center gave us more room to run everything smoothly.”
Of the toys, Moralez praised donating members of the community for coming through.
“Last year we almost ran out of toys to give out,” Moralez said. “So we knew we were going to need more toys donated this year. Not only did we get a ton of toys, we got toys for every age range. We actually ended up with extra toys, which we’ve donated to the Children’s Advocacy Center of Johnson County and the Johnson County Crisis Center.”
One toy figured in to why she continues to host the Feast every year, Moralez said.
“You can always count on kids,” Moralez said. “Kids are brutally honest and they’ll always tell you when there’s no food or toys. For adults I guess things like that are kind of more embarrassing to talk about.”
One volunteer, Moralez said, overheard a young boy tell his father he wanted a bicycle for Christmas only to have his father tell his son that he couldn’t afford to buy one.
“I took the father aside and asked if I could talk to his son,” Moralez said. “He said yes so I went over and shook the boy’s hand and asked him what he wanted for Christmas. He told me he wanted a bicycle.”
Among the toys donated were four bicycles given the the Salvation Army of Cleburne.
“I told the boy if he could pick one which one would he pick,” Moralez said. “He pointed out one of the bikes and I said, “Merry Christmas! It’s all yours.’
“I tell you I was in tears the rest of the day. It’s things like that that put this over the top for me.”
In addition to toys, members of the Cleburne First Seventh day Adventist Church distributed new clothes and shoes while Johnson County Food Bank founders Randy and Becky Hightower distributed home goods.
“Santa and Mrs. Claus were here as always,” Moralez said. “We had so many volunteers. Heights Church members helped out with gift cards to buy turkeys. Cleburne firefighters showed up and just so many people from the community who helped out.”
Many answering when many were needed, Rodriguez said.
“Great turnout volunteer wise, Rodriguez said. “We must have had 50 people show up the first hour and more came in as the day went along. I think this might have been our biggest volunteer turnout since we started the Feast. We needed them too because none of this is possible without the support of the community and so we’re very thankful to everyone who volunteered, donated and became a part of this this year.”
Moralez agreed.
“We were very blessed with more volunteers this year,” Moralez said. “That’s another big exciting part of all this for me. We have volunteers who come back year after year but we also meet new ones every year. One lady showed up with her husband and grandkids this year and told me they had the most fun and best Christmas they’ve had in a long time and are already committed to helping out for next year’s Feast.”
Which, while a ways away, is already in the planning.
“Yes,” Moralez said. “I’ll take a little breather for New Year’s but will start working on 2025’s Feast in January. It’s a year-long project and each year we learn something new about how to do it better and help more people and a lot of work and help needed to do that.
“But I love it. It’s the best thing ever and what a way to celebrate our Lord’s birthday.”
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